Acts 10:10

KJV

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he became {G1096} very hungry {G4361}, and {G2532} would {G2309} have eaten {G1089}: but {G1161} while they {G1565} made ready {G3903}, he {G846} fell {G1968} into {G1909} a trance {G1611},

Complete Jewish Bible

He began to feel hungry and wanted something to eat; but while they were preparing the meal, he fell into a trance

Berean Standard Bible

He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

American Standard Version

and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 10:10 describes Peter's physical state of intense hunger while staying in Joppa, a mundane human need that paradoxically serves as the immediate prelude to a profound spiritual experience. As preparations for a meal were underway, Peter fell into a divinely orchestrated trance, setting the stage for a transformative vision that would challenge his deeply ingrained Jewish understanding of ritual purity and, more significantly, open the door for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the nascent Christian community. This verse highlights God's sovereign use of ordinary circumstances to initiate extraordinary revelations that reshape the course of salvation history.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 10:10 is a pivotal verse, serving as the immediate narrative bridge between the ordinary and the extraordinary in Peter's life. It directly follows the introduction of Cornelius, a devout Gentile centurion, who simultaneously receives a divine instruction to send for Peter ([Acts 10:1-8](/acts/10-1-8 "Acts 10:1-8 - Cornelius's Vision")). Peter's hunger is not a random detail but a carefully placed element that provides a natural, relatable backdrop for the supernatural event that is about to unfold. The "trance" is the divine mechanism through which Peter receives the vision of the sheet filled with clean and unclean animals ([Acts 10:11-16](/acts/10-11-16 "Acts 10:11-16 - Peter's Vision of the Sheet")), directly challenging his Jewish dietary laws and, by extension, his understanding of who God considers "clean" or "unclean" among people. This dual divine encounter—Cornelius's and Peter's—underscores God's intentionality in uniting Jew and Gentile.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Peter's stay at the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa is itself significant. Tanners worked with animal hides, a profession often considered ceremonially unclean by strict Jewish standards due to contact with dead animals. Peter's willingness to lodge there already indicates a degree of openness beyond traditional Jewish strictures. Jewish dietary laws (kashrut), based on Mosaic law ([Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals")), sharply distinguished between clean and unclean foods, a distinction that also mirrored social and religious boundaries between Jews and Gentiles. For a devout Jew like Peter, the idea of eating "unclean" food was abhorrent. The cultural context of the first-century Jewish mindset, with its strong emphasis on separation and purity, makes the upcoming revelation all the more revolutionary and challenging for Peter.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Acts and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it exemplifies **Divine Preparation for Revelation**, showing how God often uses ordinary human needs—like hunger—and mundane circumstances to prepare individuals for profound spiritual encounters. Peter's physical need becomes the precise moment for divine intervention. Secondly, it highlights the **Supernatural Interrupting the Natural**, where a "trance" (Greek *ekstasis*) signifies a state of altered consciousness for direct divine communication, demonstrating God's ability to transcend human limitations to reveal His will. Thirdly, and most critically, it serves as a powerful **Foreshadowing of Gentile Inclusion**. The impending vision, prompted by Peter's hunger, directly leads to the dismantling of the Jew-Gentile barrier in the early church, a theme central to the book of Acts and later expounded by Paul, who speaks of Christ breaking down the "dividing wall of hostility" in [Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Breaks Down the Wall"). This moment marks a pivotal shift in the mission of the church, moving beyond its Jewish origins to embrace "all nations," as commanded in [the Great Commission](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hungry (Greek, _próspeinos'_):** This word (G4361) is a compound word, intensifying the sense of hunger. It literally means "hungering further" or "intensely hungry." This is not just a mild craving but a strong, pressing physical need. The intensity of Peter's hunger underscores the immediate and practical context for the vision, making the subsequent divine interruption all the more striking and impactful.
* **would have eaten (Greek, _thélō'_ + _geúomai'_):** The verb *thélō* (G2309) signifies a strong desire or intention, an active choice from subjective impulse. Coupled with *geúomai* (G1089), "to taste" or "to eat," it conveys Peter's eager readiness and strong desire to satisfy his intense hunger. This phrase emphasizes his natural human state and anticipation of a meal, making the sudden shift to a trance a dramatic contrast to his physical craving.
* **trance (Greek, _ékstasis'_):** Derived from *exístēmi*, meaning "to stand out from," *ékstasis* (G1611) literally denotes a "displacement of the mind." In the biblical context, it refers to a state of spiritual rapture, altered consciousness, or profound bewilderment, where one is temporarily removed from ordinary sensory perception to receive divine revelation. It is a state where the natural faculties are suspended, allowing for direct, unhindered communication from God, as seen in other biblical accounts of visions and prophecies.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he became very hungry":** This clause establishes Peter's immediate physical condition, a relatable human experience that grounds the subsequent supernatural event in an everyday context. His intense hunger creates a natural desire for food, setting up the dramatic irony of the vision that will challenge his very understanding of "clean" food.
* **"and would have eaten":** This indicates Peter's active desire and readiness to consume food. It highlights his expectation of a meal, making the sudden divine interruption even more unexpected and powerful. His natural craving for sustenance becomes the backdrop for a spiritual feeding.
* **"but while they made ready":** This transitional clause points to a moment of waiting and preparation. The delay in the meal's readiness provides the precise window of opportunity for God to intervene. It suggests divine timing, where an ordinary pause in human activity becomes the perfect moment for an extraordinary divine encounter.
* **"he fell into a trance":** This is the climactic moment of the verse, marking the supernatural interruption. Peter's physical state gives way to a spiritual one, indicating a profound shift in consciousness where he becomes receptive to direct divine communication. This "trance" is God's chosen method to convey the revolutionary truth that will redefine the early church's mission.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 10:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to heighten its impact. **Juxtaposition** is prominent, contrasting Peter's very human, physical hunger and desire for a meal with the sudden, supernatural onset of a trance. This sharp contrast underscores the divine intervention's unexpected nature, breaking into the mundane. There is also a strong element of **Foreshadowing**, as Peter's physical hunger for food subtly anticipates the spiritual "food" of the vision—a radical new understanding of God's inclusive plan that will challenge his deeply ingrained dietary and social distinctions. Furthermore, a subtle **Irony** is at play: Peter desires physical food, but God is about to feed him a spiritual truth that transcends his current understanding of "clean" and "unclean," ultimately leading to the abolition of the very food laws that govern his hunger. The verse also functions as a **Narrative Hook**, immediately drawing the reader into the impending, pivotal revelation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 10:10 is a testament to God's sovereign and often surprising methods of revelation. It underscores the theological truth that God can use the most ordinary, even mundane, human circumstances—like hunger—to initiate profound spiritual breakthroughs and redirect the course of His redemptive plan. Peter's trance is not merely an altered state but a divinely orchestrated means to convey a truth that would shatter centuries of Jewish tradition: the ceremonial distinctions between clean and unclean, Jew and Gentile, were being superseded by the new covenant in Christ. This event marks a crucial turning point, demonstrating God's expansive grace and His intention to create one new humanity, united in Christ, without the need for prior ethnic or ritual conformity. It highlights God's patience and pedagogical approach, preparing Peter's heart and mind for a revelation that would otherwise have been too radical to accept.

* [Acts 10:11-16](/acts/10-11-16 "Acts 10:11-16 - Peter's Vision of the Sheet")
* [Acts 11:1-18](/acts/11-1-18 "Acts 11:1-18 - Peter Explains the Gentile Conversion")
* [Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Breaks Down the Dividing Wall")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 10:10 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, encouraging us to cultivate a posture of openness and attentiveness to God's activity in our daily lives. Just as Peter's mundane hunger became the gateway to a monumental revelation, we are reminded that God often speaks and acts through the ordinary, the unexpected, and even our physical needs. This verse challenges us to consider what "trances"—moments of divine interruption or spiritual clarity—God might be inviting us into, particularly when they challenge our comfort zones, long-held traditions, or preconceived notions about who God is and how He works. It calls us to be receptive to new understandings of God's will, especially when they require us to dismantle personal biases or cultural barriers that hinder the full expression of the Gospel's inclusive nature. Our willingness to be stretched and to submit to God's broader, often counter-cultural, plans is crucial for spiritual growth and effective ministry in a diverse world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might God be using mundane circumstances in your life to prepare you for a deeper spiritual revelation or a new understanding of His will?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry might you be holding onto traditions or distinctions that God is seeking to challenge or redefine, much like Peter's understanding of clean and unclean?**
* **What does it mean to "fall into a trance" in a contemporary sense, and how can we cultivate greater receptivity to divine interruptions and spiritual insights in our busy lives?**
* **How does Peter's experience here encourage us to embrace God's inclusive love for all people, regardless of their background or previous status?**

### FAQ
**What is a "trance" in the biblical sense, and how is it different from a dream?**

Answer: In the biblical context, particularly in the New Testament, a "trance" (Greek *ékstasis*) refers to a state of altered consciousness or spiritual rapture where a person's normal sensory perceptions are suspended, allowing for direct and vivid divine revelation. Unlike a dream, which typically occurs during sleep and can be symbolic or less direct, a trance often occurs while a person is awake (though perhaps in a suspended state of awareness) and involves a direct, often visual or auditory, communication from God. For Peter in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius"), the trance was a specific, divinely induced state designed to convey a message that would have been profoundly challenging to his waking, traditional mindset. It served as a powerful, undeniable means for God to communicate His will.

**Why was Peter's hunger significant in this account?**

Answer: Peter's hunger was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it provided a natural and relatable context for the supernatural event. God often meets us in our ordinary human experiences. Secondly, it created a direct link to the content of the vision: food. The vision of the sheet filled with all kinds of animals, both clean and unclean, directly addressed Peter's physical desire for food but then immediately challenged his religious understanding of what was permissible to eat. This physical need became a pedagogical tool for a spiritual lesson, preparing Peter's mind to receive a revolutionary truth about the inclusion of Gentiles, who were considered "unclean" by Jewish law, into God's family. It was a tangible setup for an intangible, yet profound, spiritual shift.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 10:10, with Peter's trance and the subsequent vision, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the true agent of unity and the abolisher of all dividing walls. The distinction between "clean" and "unclean," which governed Jewish life and separated Jew from Gentile, was fundamentally transformed by Christ's redemptive work. Through His [death on the cross](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Broke Down the Wall"), Jesus "abolished the law with its commandments and regulations" ([Ephesians 2:15](/ephesians/2-15 "Ephesians 2:15 - One New Humanity")), thereby creating "one new humanity out of the two," reconciling both to God in one body. Peter's vision, prompted by his hunger, was a divine object lesson in this new reality. The animals declared clean by God in the vision symbolize the Gentiles, whom Christ has cleansed and made acceptable to God through His blood. The Great Commission, given by Christ Himself, commanded His disciples to make disciples of [all nations](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission"), and Peter's experience in Acts 10 is the practical, Spirit-led outworking of that command. Thus, the "trance" and the vision are not merely about dietary laws, but about the radical inclusivity of the Gospel, made possible by Christ's universal atonement, which breaks down every barrier and invites all people into a relationship with God, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham that through his seed, [all the families of the earth would be blessed](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - Abrahamic Covenant").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 22:17

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

Ezekiel 40:2

In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which [was] as the frame of a city on the south.

Numbers 24:4

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

Matthew 4:2

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Ezekiel 8:1

¶ And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, [as] I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

Ezekiel 8:3

And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

Numbers 24:16

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open: